A Look at the Move Tool

In SketchUp, the Move tool is fundamental. Knowing how to use it is will make drawing easier and more enjoyable. I've done a bit of video to demonstrate the use of the tool. Hopefully it'll give you some ideas.

Comments (4)

Perhaps I don't understand what you mean by "see through". The cursor (Move tool in this case) won't "see through" an entity to reference to something behind it. The exception is that the entity being moved can be between the grabbed point the camera. The cursor can then reference to a point or instersection which is also hidden by the moving entity.

If you need to reference to something behind another entity, you could switch to wire frame view or temporarily hide the intervening entity. In some cases it might be possible to move the reference point or create a new one that is visible. If you can lock your move in the correct direction, the reference point to which you are moving the entity can be off to the side. You could make a reference point out in space with a couple of intersecting guidelines.

Does that help? You could e-mail me if you wish. I'd be happy to converse more.

Dave
Posted: 6:23 am on September 10th

Tonto2 writes: Excellent video. I learned some new tricks and some slightly different (and really slick) ways of moving and copying.

I have not seen any evidence of the cursor being able to "see through" an object as you demonstrated. Do you need to have some specific display protocol selected to be able to do that?
Posted: 2:57 am on September 10th

Might I suggest that you try building all of the parts while working in the same scene? This can eliminate a lot of the Move operations needed to assemble the project. If you want to use various scenes to show those parts individually, it is easy to move copies away from the original model. You don't need quite the degree of accuracy in the Move operation if you are just dragging a copy of a component or a sub-assembly because you only need to drag it away far enough to get it clear of other views.

The Hide tool is very useful indeed for temporarily hiding something to open up your view.

Dave
Posted: 3:42 pm on September 7th

larinUP writes: Dave,
Good tutorial, I’m using most of the techniques shown, but I was reminded of some I had forgotten and learned a few new tricks.

I also found your blog post “Creating a Project Plan in SketchUp” (11-23-08) helpful. I’m using the other approach you mention. I draw the legs w/joinery in the 1st scene, then the next component in the next scene and move a copy back to the first scene. Building the table component by component - with a lot of help from the move tool.

Also, you write - “Some folks like to make separate SketchUp files for each of the views they need but I find it too difficult to keep track of what I've done and what I have yet to do. I find it much easier to jump from scene to scene as needed.” This is very, very good advise and a real time saver!

I know I’m hi-jacking this move tool post but, one more comment - I’ve found the hide tool to be one of the most simple, but useful SU tools.

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Learn the art and science of designing furniture in SketchUp with Fine Woodworking's official blog. Moderated by a devoted community of woodworkers, we feature step-by-step SketchUp tutorials on designing components, downloads of pre-built 3D models of furniture parts, and news and information about the evolving world of digital furniture design.